The European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS) is an established
tool for documenting and analysing quality of life in the EU.
First carried out in 2003, the EQLS explores issues pertinent
to the lives of European citizens, such as employment, income,
education, housing, family, health, work–life balance, life satisfaction
and perceived quality of society. The analysis looks at
the relationship between subjective and objective measures,
between reported attitudes and preferences on one side, and
resources and living conditions on the other.
The third survey carried out in 2011 gives an authentic picture
of living conditions and the social situation in the EU, enabling
a comparison of experiences and conditions across Member
States. The profound economic and social changes occurring
in Europe between the second EQLS in 2007 and the third
EQLS have also been reflected in the later survey, enabling Eurofound
to reveal some preliminary indications of key changes
in the overview report. The EQLS not only contributes to monitoring
the changes in society but can also pinpoint emerging
trends and concerns for the future.